Sweltering heat in the West

With daytime high temperatures expected to reach 117 degrees in some areas, the western part of the US tries to keep cool.

By compiled from wire photos

Photo: Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

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Mike Bouse of Henderson, Nev., shades himself with an umbrella as he floats in the waters along Boulder Beach at Lake Mead, Saturday, June 29, 2013 near Boulder City, Nev. Bouse and his wife planned to spend most of the day in and out of the water to escape the heat in the Las Vegas area where Saturday's daytime high was expected to reach 117 degrees, the city's all-time high. It was 108 at noon Saturday in Sin City. less

Mike Bouse of Henderson, Nev., shades himself with an umbrella as he floats in the waters along Boulder Beach at Lake Mead, Saturday, June 29, 2013 near Boulder City, Nev. Bouse and his wife planned to spend ... more

Cheng Jia, of China, right, takes a picture of Yongxin Yan by a digital thermometer at the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. less

Cheng Jia, of China, right, takes a picture of Yongxin Yan by a digital thermometer at the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive ... more

David Reyes, left, and Shavaar Hanes take a break from posing for photos with tourists as the Mario Brothers along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. less

David Reyes, left, and Shavaar Hanes take a break from posing for photos with tourists as the Mario Brothers along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury ... more

Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

David Reyes, left, and Shavaar Hanes take a break from posing for... Photo-4856679.65491 - Westport News

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A construction worker is shown atop a roof at sunrise to beat daytime high temperatures, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Queen Creek, Ariz. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Dangerously hot temperatures are expected across the Arizona deserts throughout the week with a high of 118 by Friday. less

A construction worker is shown atop a roof at sunrise to beat daytime high temperatures, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Queen Creek, Ariz. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as ... more

Photo: Matt York, Associated Press

A construction worker is shown atop a roof at sunrise to beat... Photo-4856681.65491 - Westport News

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Matthew Dayton, 6 months, is dropped into the pool by his mother Stephanie Dayton into the arms of lifeguard/swim instructor Nicolette Conrad during a "Mommy and Me" swim class at the Brea Plunge on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Brea, Calif. less

Matthew Dayton, 6 months, is dropped into the pool by his mother Stephanie Dayton into the arms of lifeguard/swim instructor Nicolette Conrad during a "Mommy and Me" swim class at the Brea Plunge on Thursday, ... more

Photo: Bruce Chambers, Associated Press

Matthew Dayton, 6 months, is dropped into the pool by his mother... Photo-4856682.65491 - Westport News

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Chris Jolley, right, of Scottsdale, runs his dog Logan through sprinklers at a local park on Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Scottsdale. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Temperature's are expected to get as high as 118 degrees. less

Chris Jolley, right, of Scottsdale, runs his dog Logan through sprinklers at a local park on Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Scottsdale. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as ... more

Elvis impersonator Cristian Morales wipes sweat from his brow while standing out on The Strip posing for photos with tourists, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas. Morales preferred to stand out in the 112 degree heat of the day instead of working the cooler evening hours saying "We'd much rather fight with the sun than fight with the drunk people." A high pressure system parking over the West is expected to bring temperatures this weekend and into next week that are extreme even for a region used to baking during the summer. less

Elvis impersonator Cristian Morales wipes sweat from his brow while standing out on The Strip posing for photos with tourists, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas. Morales preferred to stand out in the 112 ... more

Ten-year-old Easton Martin, of Mesa, Ariz., stops to cool off in a misting fan while walking along The Strip with his family, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. less

Ten-year-old Easton Martin, of Mesa, Ariz., stops to cool off in a misting fan while walking along The Strip with his family, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the ... more

Five-year-old Ashawn Rabb runs through a fountain of water at the Red Ridge Park kids water park, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas. Children with their parents stayed past sundown to cool off in the park's fountains after temperatures in Las Vegas hit 112 degrees. A high pressure system parking over the West is expected to bring temperatures this weekend and into next week that are extreme even for a region used to baking during the summer. less

Five-year-old Ashawn Rabb runs through a fountain of water at the Red Ridge Park kids water park, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas. Children with their parents stayed past sundown to cool off in the park's ... more

Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

Five-year-old Ashawn Rabb runs through a fountain of water at the... Photo-4856688.65491 - Westport News

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Maria Wieser, of Italy, takes a drink of water while sightseeing in Death Vally National Park, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Badwater, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. less

Maria Wieser, of Italy, takes a drink of water while sightseeing in Death Vally National Park, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Badwater, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as ... more

Photo: Chris Carlson, Associated Press

Maria Wieser, of Italy, takes a drink of water while sightseeing in... Photo-4856690.65491 - Westport News

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Steve Howard, of Lafayette, La., does a 30 mile training run from Badwater to Furnace Creek in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Badwater, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. less

Steve Howard, of Lafayette, La., does a 30 mile training run from Badwater to Furnace Creek in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Badwater, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much ... more

Tourists hug close to misters keeping cool as they walk along The Strip during a heat wave, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Tourists hug close to misters keeping cool as they walk along The Strip during a heat wave, Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

Tourists hug close to misters keeping cool as they walk along The... Photo-4856693.65491 - Westport News

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A Salt lake City fireman pours a cold bottle of water over the head of fireman Cary Turner after battling a house fire Thursday, June 26, 2013, in Salt lake City. Temperatures in Utah are approaching record highs and a heat advisory will be in effect for central and western parts of southern Utah through the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the western two-thirds of the state. less

A Salt lake City fireman pours a cold bottle of water over the head of fireman Cary Turner after battling a house fire Thursday, June 26, 2013, in Salt lake City. Temperatures in Utah are approaching record ... more

Photo: Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

A Salt lake City fireman pours a cold bottle of water over the head... Photo-4856694.65491 - Westport News

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A Mr. T impersonator shades himself from the sun with an umbrella while waiting for requests for photos from tourists along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. less

A Mr. T impersonator shades himself from the sun with an umbrella while waiting for requests for photos from tourists along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send ... more

Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

A Mr. T impersonator shades himself from the sun with an umbrella... Photo-4856696.65491 - Westport News

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Parker & Sons Air Conditioning warranty supervisor Michael Hawks cools off after inspecting an a/c unit, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Phoenix. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Dangerously hot temperatures are expected across the Arizona deserts throughout the week with a high of 118 Friday. less

Parker & Sons Air Conditioning warranty supervisor Michael Hawks cools off after inspecting an a/c unit, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Phoenix. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest ... more

Michael Jackson impersonator Juan Carlos Gomez drinks some water as he takes a break from posing for photos with tourists along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. less

Michael Jackson impersonator Juan Carlos Gomez drinks some water as he takes a break from posing for photos with tourists along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to ... more

A jet looks like it is melting into the runway as it is distorted by the heat waves rising up from the north runway at Sky Harbor International Airport, Friday, June 28, 2013, the hottest day of the year so far. less

A jet looks like it is melting into the runway as it is distorted by the heat waves rising up from the north runway at Sky Harbor International Airport, Friday, June 28, 2013, the hottest day of the year so ... more

Photo: Tom Tingle, Associated Press

A jet looks like it is melting into the runway as it is distorted... Photo-4856702.65491 - Westport News

A visitor to the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center walks by a digital thermometer in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. less

A visitor to the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center walks by a digital thermometer in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 in Furnace Creek, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the ... more

Photo: Chris Carlson, Associated Press

A visitor to the Furnace Creek Vistitor Center walks by a digital... Photo-4856705.65491 - Westport News

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Dan Kail, 67, of Pittsburg Pa., walks thru the sand dunes in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 near Stovepipe Wells, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest as building high pressure triggers major warming in eastern California, Nevada, and Arizona. less

Dan Kail, 67, of Pittsburg Pa., walks thru the sand dunes in Death Vally National Park Friday, June 28, 2013 near Stovepipe Wells, Calif. Excessive heat warnings will continue for much of the Desert Southwest ... more

Tourists stand under a bank of misters to keep cool while waiting for a bus along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas settled over the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that people and pets will get burned on the scalding pavement. less

Tourists stand under a bank of misters to keep cool while waiting for a bus along The Strip, Friday, June 28, 2013 in Las Vegas. A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees ... more

Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

Tourists stand under a bank of misters to keep cool while waiting... Photo-4856709.65491 - Westport News

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Heat waves rise and distort Hollywood Boulevard during a major heat wave in Southern California on June 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in most areas of Southern California. According to the national Weather Service, the heat wave is expected to linger into early next week prompting heat advisories and opening of cooling centers. less

Heat waves rise and distort Hollywood Boulevard during a major heat wave in Southern California on June 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in most areas of ... more

A tourist holding an umbrella to shield herself from the sun walks on Hollywood Walk of Fame stars during a major heat wave in Southern California on June 28, 2013 in downtown Los Angeles, California. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in most areas of Southern California. According to the national Weather Service, the heat wave is expected to linger into early next week prompting heat advisories and opening of cooling centers. less

A tourist holding an umbrella to shield herself from the sun walks on Hollywood Walk of Fame stars during a major heat wave in Southern California on June 28, 2013 in downtown Los Angeles, California. ... more

Photo: Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

A tourist holding an umbrella to shield herself from the sun walks... Photo-4856718.65491 - Westport News

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Jett Jameson collects rocks while cooling down in the Carmel River at Dampierre Park in Carmel Valley, Calif. on Thursday June 27, 2013.

Jett Jameson collects rocks while cooling down in the Carmel River at Dampierre Park in Carmel Valley, Calif. on Thursday June 27, 2013.